Guest Post: A Writer's Wish for Her Readers

Today author Loree Lough is my special guest for the very first time.

Loree is the author of the “First Responder” series which she inaugurated with the publication of Ashes to Honor and is following up with Honor Redeemed. On a cold November night, when a jumbo jet crashes on a busy highway, Honor Mackenzie responds to the scene to join the Search and Rescue (SAR) team’s search for survivors. Journalist Matt Phillips is determined to “scoop” other news outlets. Unbeknownst to Matt, another reporter published an inaccurate story about Honor that resulted in the end of her career with the local fire department. He is immediately drawn to the beautiful, but sad-eyed redhead.

They soon realize that, in addition to SAR missions, they have other things in common, including the grief of losing a loved one on September 11. Their budding relationship is strained, however. When Matt learns that Honor has gone missing during a search for a lost girl, he personally leads the SAR team in a desperate attempt to locate her before the arrival of a forecast blizzard. Even if he succeeds in saving Honor, can their relationship be saved?

A Writer’s Wish for Her Readers

by
Loree Lough

First, a big and heartfelt thanks to JHSiess for the invite. I’m pleased as punch and proud to be here!

Second, I have some super news about the First Responders series:

1. From Ashes to Honor has earned itself a movie option! Now, everyone knows that most options never become movies, and the few that do rarely make it to the screen, but still . . . it’s an honor to have the Hollywood mega-moguls consider it, y’know!

2. Just got a call from my publicist, who said “Are you sitting down?” And then she proceeded to tell me that the prestigious Library Review gave Honor Redeemed a “starred” review. Whoa. That’s rare, so, yeah, I was pretty pumped!

3. A producer called me not long ago — and stayed on the phone a whopping 15 minutes — talking about “possibilities.” So I was, like, Is there gonna be a bidding war . . . in Tinseltown . . . for something I wrote!? (sigh) Let me tell ya, I’ve spent a lot of time on my knees thanking God for all these blessings. (And if you get a minute, I wouldn’t mind a bit if you’d shoot a prayer toward heaven on my behalf, because, well, wow, this is some crazy stuff, y’know!)

But enough about me. So what do YOU think about me? LOL

I’m kidding. Really. No…I mean it!

Lots of readers write to tell me what they thought of a particular book. All sorts of people. Old, young, men, women, kids . . . Jews and Christians and Buddhists and Muslims. They share things in their own lives that mirror what happened in the story. Or tell me about someone they know who reminds them of one of my characters. They ask me to pray with them, about finances, job situations, missing kids, cancer diagnoses, the death of a loved one. And I write back as quickly as I can and assure them that I will.

To date, there are about 8,100 letters in my “Reader Letters” file drawer, and another 1,000 or so in my email address book. Did any of you have a pen pal when you were kid? Well a whole lot of these folks have become exactly that . . . letters and emails (and in a few rare cases, text messages) float from my house to theirs . . . some as far away as Rwanda!

Yeah, this sure is one wacky business. Where else can a gal hope to meet and interact with people from all around the world!

So this post is supposed to be me, talking about me and my books, right? (shrug) For some unknown reason, I have this feeling that today, it’s more important to focus on you. Whether you’re in New York, the Midwest, California, or the millions of places between . . . I’m prayin’ for you, too. Yeah, okay, that sounds mucho-corny, but with all the fierce weather and tragic accidents and heartbreaking news we’re surrounded by every day, I figure it can’t hurt to add my tinny voice to the others floating heavenward. So here’s hoping your weather is exactly the way you like it. And if you or anyone close to you is sick, well, that’s on my “Check this out, God” list, too.

I’d like to share a little something with you . . . a “naggy mom” thing that I used to tell my daughters (both married with daughters of their own now): “There are two things in life that, once they’re gone, you can never get back . . . your virginity, and time, so think long and hard about how you choose to spend both.”

I know you’re busy with work and family and God-knows-what-else, so I’m touched and thankful that you chose to spend a few minutes of your time with me today.

Wishing you and yours only the best that life has to offer.

Meet Loree

There are more than 3,000,000 copies of author Loree Lough’s books in circulation! She has penned 82 fiction and nonfiction titles for adults and kids, one in addition to 68 short stories, and over 2,500 articles. She has amassed numerous accolades, including “Readers’ Choice” awards and 4- and 5-star reviews.

Loree loves sharing learned-the-hard-way lessons about the craft of writing and the publishing industry. Her comedic approach makes her a favorite and frequent guest of writers’ organizations, book clubs, private and government institutions, and college and high school writing programs.

Because she believes in “giving back,” Loree dedicates a portion of her income to Soldiers’ Angels, Special Operations Warrior Foundation, and other worthwhile organizations.

Loree splits her time between a tiny home in the Baltimore suburbs and an even tinier cabin in the Allegheny Mountains, both of which she shares with her real-life hero, Larry. He rarely complains, even when she adds yet another item to her vast collection of “wolf stuff.”

Connect with Loree at her website, or on Facebook or Twitter.